Italian Unification after 1848

Study Notes

Revolutions of 1848 sparked nationalistic fervor but were initially suppressed.
Congress of Vienna (COV) dismissed the idea of a unified Italy, deeming it laughable.
Nationalist movements emerged, often through secret societies aiming to expel Austrian forces.

Post-1848, the nationalist party gained new leadership in the Kingdom of Sardinia.
Count Camillo Cavour became Prime Minister under King Victor Emmanuel II.

War was largely favorable for Cavour, aiding Sardinia in gaining territory.
Napoleon III feared Prussia’s involvement, leading to a separate peace treaty with Austria at Villafranca in July 1859.
Cavour was disillusioned with the outcomes: Piedmont gained Lombardy and Nice, while Venetia remained with Austria, and Central Duchies stayed under Habsburg control.
Unification efforts seemed stalled until Central Duchies voted to join Piedmont-Sardinia, reinforcing Cavour’s position.

Giuseppe Garibaldi led a rebellion in Sicily against Bourbon rulers in 1860.
Local class issues supplemented the nationalist cause; Cavour and Napoleon III were unconcerned.
Garibaldi, with support from 1,000 volunteers, successfully liberated Sicily.
Cavour grew apprehensive of Garibaldi’s rising success fearing potential conflict with France or Austria.

Key areas like Rome and Venetia remained outside of Italian unification efforts.
French troops held Rome, and Venetia was under Austrian control.
The Prussia-Austrian War presented an opportunity; Bismarck sought Italian support and promised recognition of claims to Venetia.
Despite suffering in the war, Italy emerged victorious, and Venetia was ceded.
The Franco-Prussian War allowed Italian forces to capture Rome; the Vatican City was assigned to the Pope.
Italy was unified for the first time since the Roman Empire.